Musical Director

Carmel Whelan is a multi-instrumentalist and conductor from North Dublin. She began learning traditional Irish music at a young age and fostered a love of singing as a member of RTÉ’s Cór na nÓg. She went on to study music at DIT Conservatory of Music & Drama, graduating in 2011 with a Bachelor of Music in Composition.

Carmel has since gone on to study choral music education with the Choral Music Institute under renowned choral conductors, Dr. Doreen Rao and Mandy Miller. In 2016, Carmel undertook a choral internship with Greg Beardsell, artistic director of the Irish Youth Choir, in association with Singfest and Music Generation Offaly Westmeath.

Carmel is the musical director of The High Hopes Choir who featured in RTE’s award-winning documentary. She also directs the National Treasury Management Agency Choir, Ossia Youth Choir, and Boru, amongst others. Carmel worked as a choral assistant on RTE’s production, Centenary which broadcast live from the Bord Gáis Theatre in 2016 and, most recently, as musical director on Delaney Musical Society’s production of Spring Awakening in The Mill Theatre, Dundrum and assistant musical director on The Promise Musical Drama in Swords Castle.

Carmel has performed in venues including The National Concert Hall, The Gaiety Theatre, Bord Gáis Theatre, Áras an Uachtarán, and the European Parliament, and has performed alongside artists such as Colm Wilkinson, Glen Hansard, Celine Byrne, Christy Moore and the Savannah Philharmonic.